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General discussion

Not thrilled with attitudes in CNET Forums

Oct 3, 2008 11:00PM PDT

I have been a subscriber to CNET and it's forums for a number of years. I have enjoyed not only using them to help me solve problems, but have also contributed to some of them to help others. It used to be both educational and enjoyable.

However, I have noticed recently that a lot of issues start out with fairly decent posts and then the issue deteriorates into flaming and name calling.....kinda like the presidential campaign ads this year.

I am sadly disappointed in CNET's moderators for allowing this to happen as it detracts from the actual issue (which many users may be having and want help with) and puts me off reading the forums altogether.

Also, I have noticed that some forums do not even discuss the topic as stated in the CNET newsletter. This has definitely made me reconsider my subscription.

CNET, can you please do a better job of moderation of these forums to ensure that users stay on topic and that those that demean and flame are given warnings or locked out of posting.

Also, can you please, before adding a topic to your newsletter, read the entire topic and see exactly what has been written about the proposed topic. Then if you want to add it to your newsletter, make sure of the answers given to solve the problem. If the answers are concrete and do solve the problem, lock the topic so that others cannot come into it and mess up the solution with flames, disrespect and mis-information.

If others want to comment about the topic they can always start a new topic with a "RE: xxxx".

Thanks and have a great day.

Discussion is locked

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Offensive posts, how to respond.
Oct 4, 2008 7:10AM PDT

Hi Wimpy. Thanks for your post.

Moderators constantly trawl the forums for offensive posts, or posts that may cause conflict in ongoing discussions, and I believe we do a pretty good job. These forums are international, and are open 24 hours a day, and generally there is one or two Mods around during the day. But sometimes we need a rest from our labors, and so we sign off.

We can't police the forums alone, and we rely heavily on other members to alert us to posts that they think may need attention. Each post has an option to be reported if the reader is offended or otherwise concerned, and you may have seen the "Report offensive post" button below each post.

Those alerts are invaluable, and they help CNET to keep these forums generally clear of site or product promotion, (advertising), offensive language, flaming, spamming, and other things that you may see in other forums. The forums are very clean, and all us members like to keep them that way.

There are many posts that you will not see, where the Moderators have stepped in straight away to remove them.
But even so, some posts slip through the net. With the traffic these forums see, I suppose that is inevitable. So if you can help us to keep the forums free from such posts we would be grateful. Use the alert button when you feel a post 'crosses the line'.

There are things to consider though.

International. Like I said, the forums are international and we see posts from peoples all over the world. What may not be offensive to one person, culture, or society, etc, may well be to another. We walk a fine line here.

Content. I am a stickler for good grammar and punctuation. I try me best, Devil But we have to realize that for some members, English is not their first language, and so we need to be considerate in our actions and responses.

Speakeasy. I have left this to last. Speakeasy is a special case. There are no special rules regarding offense, argument, flaming, and inappropriate language, but SE is not a technical forum where members seek help on their particular technical problems. It is a forum of ideas and freedom of speech, within the rules, where members can discuss what concerns or interests them.

Being that, CNET attempts to relax the rules a little, to allow the discussion to flow freely. But inevitably some discussions will tend to go off course, and will often need attention. Political discussions are examples. Political beliefs tend to be strongly held, and in times when political issues are in the forefront of members' lives outside of the forums, (the current Presidential race in the US being a prime case), then tempers are bound to rise, and discussions may get heated. Without wanting to dive in and remove posts left right and center, nevertheless the SE Moderators do have to step in, and on occasion they have to intervene more often than not.

The Mods are walking a tightrope in SE. They want to keep the topics and the discussion free flowing, but they also have to ensure that things do not get out of hand. Unfortunately, what some people find no offense to, others do, and that is difficult to react to.

Please feel free to alert us Mods on any post you feel crosses the line.

I haven't discussed your other topic about the CNET Newsletters. I haven't particularly seen a problem myself, but I will let others comment on that.

Regards.

Mark

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To add
Oct 4, 2008 11:57PM PDT

I realize that the community profiles may not yet be completely up to date, thus accurate. I checked the 6 available forum posts listed since you joined in 2003 for the tone of the responses you personally received. I think you will agree that they were positive.

I don't believe you have participated in Speakeasy, at least under this user name of Wimpy6. It is one of CNet;s "Off-topic" forums, which also includes AnchorDesk Lounge, BuzzOut Lounge, Community Polls, CNet TV, Gadgettes Lounge, MP3 Insider Lounge, The Real Deal.

"Off Topic" means these are not "Help" forums. Some are for topics of a general nature, some are specific. As in non-cyber life, there can be a wide range of opinion that can be well supported. Also as in non-cyber life, a small minority does not accept that premise. The vast majority does.

We have solved the problems of the world several times over, prevented WWIII more than once, have some outstanding writers, and shared some terrific jokes in Speakeasy over the years.

Angeline